Glimmer Map
Watch squares light up on a map, then tap every square you saw.
Memory · All ages
Tap the squares that lit up, then press Submit map.
About this game
Glimmer Map is a spatial memory game. A grid lights up in a pattern and then goes dark, and you tap the squares that glowed, in any order, then press Submit map.
It is inspired by classic tasks that study visuospatial memory, our ability to remember where things are. Remembering locations engages a different part of working memory than remembering words or numbers, so it is a good complement to a digit or word game.
How to play
- Watch the squares light up on the map.
- When the map goes dark, tap every square you remember.
- Press Submit map to see how you did. More squares light up as you improve.
Tips
- Scan the grid row by row so you don't miss a corner.
- Look for shapes in the pattern, such as a line, a corner or a zigzag.
- Tap squares you're sure of first, then add the ones you're less sure about.
How it adapts
Kids get smaller patterns and more time to recall. Teens and adults get larger patterns and less time. The number of lit squares adjusts to how you play.
Questions
What is spatial memory?
It is your memory for places and positions, like where you left your keys or how a room is laid out.
Do I have to tap the squares in order?
No. In Glimmer Map you can tap them in any order. Only the set of squares counts.
What happens if I tap a wrong square?
It counts against your score, so it is better to leave out a square you truly can't recall than to guess randomly.
The research behind it
Visuospatial memory tasks are widely used to study how we hold locations in mind. Practice makes you better at the specific pattern-recall game you play; we report your scores in the game and make no promise about everyday memory.
